October 18, 2009

                           Gospel of John 6: 1-14.

                           Rev. Sharon James Fazel

                          “This is a ‘reality sermon’”

WE GATHER AS PEOPLE OF FAITH

Musical Opening to Our Time Together (We sing together, or hear a Prelude)

“Every Time I Feel the Spirit” #282

“Spirit of the Living God” #283

We Welcome Guests and Visitors

A special welcome to our visitors! We invite you to complete a welcome card

and place it in the offering plate, so that we may stay in touch about events

in our church. Feel free to request a name tag, as well.

We Prepare to Begin Worship By

Ringing the Church Bell and Lighting the Altar Candles

We Declare Our Coming Together for Worship

(Call to Worship)

This morning, we gather as the people of God. We come here for many different reasons. They are not the same reasons for all of us. We come seeking different rewards. They are as varied as we are, individually.

But this morning, we take time to understand firsthand, why we come together, in order that we may indeed minister better to one another -- in the continually unfolding spiritual journey, of this faith community.

Therefore, rather than giving you words to speak about worship, we give you time and space, (literally) to write in your own answers to a few brief comments about your purposes in being here together, today. There are only four of them.

Perhaps some of you who are compulsive readers, have already filled yours out as you sat here; or perhaps some of you read the bulletin in our emails ahead of time, filled in your comments at home, and brought them in!

Whatever description fits you, I invite you to write in your answers during the pauses, as they may be different now that you’re here.

But -- if you prefer to just keep them in your head, that’s fine, too.

We won’t be collecting them, but I may be asking you to share according to your comfort level, at a later point in the service.

Of course, then – as at every moment of our time together – you are free to determine your own participation, even if that means closing your eyes and listening throughout!  Let us begin:

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One:     As we come together this morning in worship, “worship” to me is …

One:     As we look forward to singing together, I hope ...

One:     As we take time to pray, I fear that ...

One:     As we hear the stories of Christian faith, I hope  that…

We Sing Our Opening Song Together

(Black Book/Hymnal)

# 504 “You Walk Along Our Shoreline”                                                                              

(Choir gathers up front)

*We Pray Together…

Holy One, as we gather in your presence, we seek answers, we seek comfort, we

seek  solice. We seek to settle our anxiety and to share our joy. We seek.

Be with us now as we affirm our seeking as loved by you, even as you loved the

seeking of those who followed Jesus, so many lifetimes ago. Amen.

CHOIR SINGS

(10:30 service only) We Take Special Time With Our Children

Following Children’s Time, Sunday School for children aged pre-school thru 8th grades

meets in age appropriate groupings, where the stories of our faith are taught,

while parents are in church.

We Announce to Each Other Important Events

These are brief notices of importance regarding activities within our church

or wider community. Please come forward to the microphone, say your name,

& remember others’ interests by speaking concisely & briefly.

WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE STORIES OF OUR FAITH -- Gospel of John 6: 1-14

We Hear A Message of Hope and Promise (Sermon)

“This is a ‘Reality Sermon’”                             Rev. Sharon James Fazel

Our scripture for today, from the Gospel of John, tells of a moment in the life of Jesus, whose stories are the basis of our faith. It was a moment when people came together by choice. Some of them knew each other, some didn’t.

They took their own seats, according to their comfort. They sat, and they listened.

Perhaps there were children in the crowd, cooing or laughing, talking or playing.

Perhaps there were older people who couldn’t hear everything that was going on…

But it was their custom to come together at this time of year, it was the Passover, a celebration of the Jews that commemorated their deliverance from death at the hand of the Egyptian Pharoah in antiquity. And they knew that this man, Jesus, had done some pretty extraordinary things, so they were curious, about him and about how he might help them.

By the time they were settled down, however, and Jesus had begun to speak, the men and some women who traveled with Jesus, the disciples, noticed that the crowd was growing larger by the moment.

If they were all to stay and hear Jesus out – they would soon be hungry.

So, they asked around who had food, and one boy brought forward 5 loaves of barley bread and two fish. Jesus asked everyone to sit, then he took the loaves of bread and the fish and blessed them. Then, he began passing out what they had. Soon, everyone was fed. And not only was everyone fed, but there was lots left over. Jesus told the disciples to gather it all up; not to waste any of it!

Now – I ask you – what that we do together, does this description of events sound like to you?

Possible responses: Communion/worship -- Take in all!

What are the elements, or the moments, that make the parts of this story sound like worship?

People coming together, different places, different reasons; sit and listen; share; they are fed, physically and spiritually; they share a blessing; miraculously there is more than they need; Jesus asks them to be sure and gather it all up! … And not to waste it!

2 things – before this reading: Jesus tells the Pharisees, the Jewish temple hierarchy, that he does not speak for himself, but for God who sent him.

After this reading, the people are so impressed with Jesus’ ability to feed them all, that he fears they are plotting to bestow some sort of title on him – “Make him king” – and he slips away to avoid that.

Question: Where does Jesus want to keep the power in this story? –

In the people, in the gathering, in what happens among the people who minister to each other, in their recognition that their spiritual home is in God (not in Jesus).

NOW -- Let’s take a moment to hear from you, the congregation…  (use call to worship fill-ins)

First, I’d like to hear from anyone who is 39 years old, or YOUNGER –

Next, anyone 40 years old thru 62 years old, inclusive—

And finally, anyone 63 years old and older –

Any similarities? What do they have in common?

Any differences? How do their answers differ from each other?

Comment on differences and similarities as they appear.

Then move into Lord’s Prayer introduction after concluding observations on their feedback…

… even that Jesus who walked and talked among the peoples of the earth, declaring his message to be not his own, but for the purpose of honoring, praising, and acknowledging the power of the One God, the Holy One, to whom he taught us to pray, even as we speak to our mother, or to our father – who art in heaven … (Lord’s Prayer)

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E-mail:1stcongo@pro-ns.net

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